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Thursday, February 17, 2011

My kids' quilts

Here's something from before the holidays that I haven't had a chance to share yet. My kids (OK, really just my girls ... but little bro had t get in on the action) got it in their heads that they wanted to make themselves a doll quilt. Maybe it was seeing me work on my many projects. Maybe it was the anticipation of getting American Girl dolls for Christmas that would need their own little quilts. Likely, it was a combination of both.

Anyway, those of you who have spent any amount of time with 6 year-old girls know that, once they get something stuck in their heads, they can be very persistent. So it didn't take long for them to wear me down convince me to help them make their quilts.

I sat them in front of my scrap basket and told them they could pick out any fabrics they wanted for their quilts. (I tried my best to steer them away from my small stash of very-tempting-for-little-girls but hard to replace Mendocino mermaids and Heather Ross unicorns, but other than that they could use whatever they wanted!)

After they made their selections and I trimmed up some squares, they laid the squares out themselves. Then it was time to sew them all together.

Here's Megan with her quilt. She was definitely the ringleader of this whole project and the one who most wanted to make her own quilt. She was also the one most interested in learning how to actually make the quilt. I taught her the basics of the sewing machine, lining pieces up right sides together, using the 1/4" guide on the sewing foot ... she really seemed interested and able to grasp all of it. I can definitely see her getting into sewing and quilting before too long! I quilted Megan's quilt in a diagonal cross-hatch pattern, cutting through the middle of each patch.

And here's Bevin with her quilt that (unsurprisingly) prominently features flowers and the color pink. Bevin really enjoyed the process of picking out the fabrics and laying them out, and helped feed a few pieces through the machine, but otherwise really just wanted it to be finished so that she could have the final quilt. Let's just say that patience isn't her strong suit! I quilted Bevin's quilt in a basic straight-line outline / echo pattern.

PS. Don't you just love the purple pants and the bright pink striped socks? That is SO her.

And finally, here's baby bro Sean with his quilt. He INSISTED on using the scraps of the Tammis Keefe print featuring Santa and his reindeer that Scott sent me. Luckily, he hasn't yet noticed that Santa is actually whipping those poor reindeer. I was also able to use some small pieced blocks that I had received in some block swaps, which I think add a cool element to the quilt. I quilted Sean's quilt with a large pebble pattern, which gives the quilt such a cool look. A little more masculine too, IMHO.

Anyway, amidst the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I was really happy to get to spend time with my kids and share this project with them. I know Anna and Eileen (new AG dolls) and Stitch (my son's most recent acquisition from DisneyWorld) are all happy to have their own quilts this winter, too!

oh that is too cute! and how nice that they had some creative time with Dad too. I can't remember making anything with my mum when I was a kid - although I'm sure I did - I'm just getting older and forgetting more stuff!

Oh wow! how totally awesome :0) I know you have to be proud of them. I didn't do any sewing when my girls were small and the oldest two are not interested at this time. They are out on their own, but my youngest at 17 has taken up quilting! I am so totally proud of her and what she has done. She made a lap size quilt last summer using info from blogs!(many thanks to bloggers who are sharing their knowledge!)and a book. She is making a twin size quilt as part of her senior project for school. The idea is it'll fit her dorm room when she goes to school in the fall. So here is a shout out and a thanks for what you're doing. The sharing of your life & talent is greatly appreciated:0)Sarah

How lovely is it that you can share your passion with your children? My oldest desperately wanted a sewing machine for her 3rd birthday this past December and was insulted when I suggested a toy. So she has a little Sew D-lite (with the power cord and needle removed) and she ‘quilts’ with me all the time. Maybe one day we will actually be able to make something together!

What a great project. There is so much I like about it: that you involved your kids (or they involved you) in the project, that they got to do as much or as little as they wanted; that you quilted them in different fashions; and that you shared it! Have a great day!

How wonderful! I feel your pain on the 6 year-old insistence. My son is the same way. Neither he nor his brother, however, are the least bit interested in quilting. They are constantly putting in requests for quilts, but have no desire for the process. You're a lucky man!

This is a great blog entry. How wonderful that you were able to teach them how to do this and spend some quality time doing something you love. I bet they will not forget that day! Best kind of memories to make!

These are so fabulous! I have many fond memories of getting involved in whatever crafting/making projects my father had going on, and even made a hand-pieced hexagon potholder for my grandmother that was inspired the hexagon quilt he was making at the time. What a great dad you are!

Very very nice. And theres hope for Bevin too. My oldest daughter expressed an interest in things quilty several times over the years but never had the patience to see any project through to the end. She lost interest quickly. I bought her a sewing machine for Christmas in 2009 and she's made purses and pillows and has the fabric cut out for a quilt of her own making - pattern and all. You're a great dad for helping them with the whole thing and letting them do the parts they wanted to actually do.

Awesome. Really cute. My oldest grandson is 2 1/2 and I have a brand new granddaughter. I can't wait to introduce them to the sewing machine. It will be awhile. I will enjoy what your kids sew for now! BTW, the kids are adorable. I love the purple pants and striped socks.

Aren't kids just the best. Enjoy them whilst they are loaned to you because that's what it really is and before you know it, going by one day at a time, they are all grown up and gone. Their quilts are all lovely and so are they.

It's great that you're encouraging them. I got my first machine (old black Singer) when I was six years old (so I would keep my hands of my mom's machine!) and I've always been grateful for mom's encouragement and most of all, patience. :-)

I think my favorite part of this post is that a dad is talking about keeping mermaid and unicorn fabric for himself from his daughters... that´s a man who knows the worth of his stash! :)

I love that your kids wanted doll quilts and its so cute that one daughter has an interest in sewing. I loved learning craft projects from my mother and as my patience and abilities grew so did our bonding time in the craft room - such precious memories.

Those are so cute! Good that they are interested at such a young age. My 2 yr old son has been very fascinated with my fabric scraps ever since he could crawl into my sewing studio and hang out. Loves to drap long pieces around his neck like a scarf! Very cute! Jenn

Super fun post!!! I once gave my daughter (I think she was 9) free reign to pick any fabric from my FQ shelves to make a big 4 patch quilt. I was very proud of myself for letting her choose whatever she wanted (man that was hard, pathetic eh?). It took a couple of years to actually get that quilt finished and she gifted it to her gymnastic coach for her new baby girl. Good on you for getting all 3 doll quilts done over the holidays!!

Fantastic to read of you quiloting - great work!!! Also impressed you are taeching your children - how wonderful for them...and what lovely quilts they have. I will pop back and see what else you have been up to soon.

That is just so cool, to have them want to make their own quilts and what a fine job each of them did in picking out the fabric and colors. They are talented kids!! Do you think I could get my 31-year old son and his wife pick out some fabric and colors so I could make them a quilt? Hmmmmm!!

I have hopes of teaching my G-daughter to sew and this gives me more hope. I love the quilts and I am anticipate the future when your Beautiful Megan makes a quilt again. Bevin's (what a beautiful name) quilt and clothes, color choice and style remind me of my Chloe. And Sean's choices are great, it is for sure a little boy quilt. What a wonderful thing to do with your children.